Drug raid hearings moved to May 2; no new arrests

MORRISON – Preliminary hearings for two men accused of growing and possessing major amounts of marijuana plants in Deer Grove have been moved to May 2.

Vincent W. Fiore, 46, of Mount Morris, and Myles O. Olsen, 40, of Bartlett, are charged with possession with intent to deliver more than 5,000 grams of marijuana, which carries 6 to 30 years in prison, and production of marijuana plants, which carries 3 to 7 years.

Their hearings were to have been held Thursday in Whiteside County Court.

Illinois State Police Blackhawk Area Task Force agents found about 45 pounds of marijuana, worth about $635,000 on the street, and more than 150 pot plants April 17 at a home in rural Whiteside County, they said in a news release.

The home is at 2485 Hoover Road in Deer Grove, court documents show.

After that raid, task force agents searched a home in Bartlett where Olsen purportedly lives, and a Mount Morris home and a home in LaSalle, both owned by Fiore, the release said.

In those three searches, they seized $24,000 in cash and $190,000 in assets believed to be derived from drug sales and other activity, including a GMC Denali SUV, a Chevy Silverado pickup, two cars, two snowmobiles, two tractors, and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.